Clasp



(No ModeL) J. R. MACMILLAN.

CLASP.

FFICEQ TnNT JAMES ROBERT MACMILLAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOISJ CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,672, dated April29, 1890.

Application filed April 27, 1889. Serial No. 308,831. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES ROBERT MACMIL LAN, of Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Clasps; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved clasp or buckle adapted for useupon suspenders, belts, and for other similar uses where it is desiredto connect two parts or straps in such manner that they can be easilyand quickly connected with and disconnected from each other.

The invention consists in the matters here-' inafter described, andpointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is aperspective view of a suspender-clasp embodying the invention. Fig. 2 isa face view thereof. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section thereof.Figsi'et and 5 show in face view the parts of the clasp when separatedfrom each other. Fig. 6 illustrates in face view another form of theclasp. Fig. 7 shows in face view a clasp for belts also embodying theinvention. Figs. 8 and 9 show'the parts of the clasp illustrated in Fig.7 detached from each other.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, A is a plate having a broad fiatcircular projection or stud A on its face, which projection or stud isprovided in its side edge with a shallow annular groove or recess Bindicates the other part of the clasp, which consists of an open ringadapted to encircle the stud A and rest in the groove thereof. Said ringis made of spring metal, or metal having some degree of resiliency, andis made to normally fit within or clasp the groove a of the stud A. Saidring, in the particular form thereof shown in Figs. 1 to 5, is providedadjacent to its open end with loops or eyes I) I), through which may beinserted a ring or the loop of a strap or cord, to which the said part13 is connected.

In the application of the device to a sus-- pender, as illustrated, thelower round strap C of the suspender may be inserted through said eyesor loops 1) b in the mannerillustrated. The plate A is shown as havingits upper margin bent inwardly to form a flange a, which is serrated. atits edge and pivoted to lugs (Z (1 upon a plate D, between which plateand the flange 0 the strap E of the suspender passes, so that the upperpart of said. plate A, together with the plate D, forms an adj ustablestrap-holdii'ig device of well-kn own and familiar construction.

The parts A and B of the clasp, constructed as above described, areconnected with and disconnected from each other by expansion of the ringB to allow the same to pass over the enlarged part or head of the stud Aoutside of the groove (0 therein, the ring being adapted to yield toallow such expansion thereof by reason of being disconnected at onepoint, in the manner illustrated. In con" necting the parts of thebuckle the ring lBis placed over or against the stud A and pressed orforced against the same until the head of the stud expands and entersthe ring and the latter becomes engaged with the groove of the stud. Indisconnecting the parts the ring 13 is held by its projecting ends andthe thumb or finger pressed upon the stud, so as to force the same fromthe ring, or the two parts of the buckle may be taken in the hands andbent or flexed until the ring is carried out of engagement with thestud. The ring will commonly be made relatively thin and flexible, sothat its engagement and disengagement in the manner described may beeasily effected.

As far as the general purposes of my invention are concerned the partsof the clasp containing the stud and ring may be connected in anydesired manner with the straps or other objects tobe detachablyconnected; but the particular construction illustrated, by which a ringor loop is engaged with eyes upon the ends of the ring, is of especialadvantage and constitutes a further and separate improvement, it beingentirely obvious that when strain is brought upon the parts of the claspthus constructed the loop engaged with the eyes I) l) (in the instanceillustrated. the strap 0) will tend to draw together the adjacent endsof the ring, and thus clamp the same against the stud A. It follows,therefore, that any strain coming upon the parts of the clasp thusconstructed will tend to tighten the grip of the ring upon the stud, sothat the greater the strain tending to separate the parts the morestrongly will they be held from detachment. In a clasp thus constructed,therefore, the ring B may be made relatively light and thin to admit ofits easy engagement with and disengagement from the stud, while at thesame time the parts will be firmly and strongly engaged when strain ortension is brought upon the parts of the clasp.

The construction in which a metal ring or loop is engaged with the eyesZ) bin place of the strap O is shown in Fig. 5, the operation in bothcases obviously being the same.

The results produced by the construction above described may be producedby many other different forms of connection between the ring part of theclasp and the object to which the same is attached. In Fig. 6, forinstance, I have shown a clasp consisting of a plate A, having a stud A,made in the same manner as before described. The ring B in this instancehas its ends bent outwardly to form arms I) b, which are engaged attheir ends with inclined slots f f in a metal plate F, which plate isprovided with a slotted portion or flat loop F for engagement with astrap, or is otherwise adapted for connection with the part to which thering is connected.

The inclined slots f f are both sloped inwardly and upwardly ortowardthe body of the ring, so that when strain is brought upon the plate F,tending to draw it away from the stud, the end parts of the arms Z)engaged with the said slots are drawn toward each other, thereby tendingto close the ring and clasp the same tightly in the groove of the stud.The ends of the said arms I) are shown as being held in engagement withthe slots f f by being bent at right angles to pass through the slotsand having heads b at the rearsurface of the plate to prevent theirdisengagement therefrom.

In Figs. 7, 8, and 9 is shown a clasp adapted more especially for abelt, but containing the same general features of constructionhereinbefore described. In this instance a plate A is employed providedwith a stud A, said plate in this instance having a loop A at one sidethereof to engage one end G of the belt. The open ring 13, forengagement with the stud, is provided near its severed ends with tworadially-arranged arms 11' If, the end portions Z1 of which are bentinwardly in alignment with each other and engage the ends of a hollowsleeve or tube II, in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 9. The oppositeend G of the belt is secured to the ring by passing around said tube I1.I11 the operation of the clasp thus constructed tension of the beltacting upon the tube H, acts to draw together the adjacent ends of theopen ring 13, the ends I) of the arms 19 sliding inwardly within thesaid tube H as the ring is tightened stud A is shown as consisting of aprojection of ornamental shape having four separate parts engaging thering.

The stud A is herein shown as stamped or pressed up from the plate A;but such stud may be otherwise formed or constructed, as may be foundconvenient or desirable.

The construction illustrated is of especial advantage for clasps usedfor suspenders and other similar purposes, for the reason that the ringpart of the clasp is adapted to swing or rotate about the stud, therebyproviding a hinged or pivotal connection, such as has heretofore beenprovided in suspender-buckles, by means of a separate pivotal joint inorder to allow the upper suspender-strap to adjust itself with referenceto the lower or branched strap.

I claim as my invention- 1. A clasp or buckle comprising a plateprovided with a projection or stud havinga peripheral groove ordepression, an open or expansible ring adapted to engage said groove,and a loop having an oppositely-inclined or V-shaped part or surfaceengaging the adjacent ends of said open ring and adapted to draw thesame together and clamp the open ring against the stud when strain isbrought upon the parts.

2. A clasp or buckle comprising a plate provided with a projection orstud having a pe ripheral groove or depression, an open ring adapted toengage said groove, said ring being provided with eyes at its adjacentends, and a flexible loop engaged with said eyes, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES ROBERT MACMILLAN.

/Vitnesses:

0. CLARENCE POOLE, HARRY Conn KENNEDY.

ITO

